Collapsible metallic structure.



J. 0. ELLINGER. GOLLAPSIBLE METALLIC STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION FILED 001215, 1912.

Patented Apr. 28, 1914@ W/TNETSSES COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO, WASHINGTON, D. c.

JULIAN O. ELLINGER, OF NEVJ YORK, N. Y.

COLLAPSIBLE METALLIC STRUCTURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 28, 1914.

Application filed October 15, 1912. Serial No. 725,796.

To all lU/(ONL it may concern Be it known that I, JULIAN ELLINGER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the borough of Manhattan, city and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Metallic Structures, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to skeleton structures fabricated of metallic members adapted to be used as columns or beams in concrete reinforcements and consists of the novel features hereinafter set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

()ne of the objects of the invention is to provide such a structure composed of a series of longitudinal members arranged in angular relation to each other and having members pivotally connecting the same in such manner that the structure may be col lapsed and stored or transported and may be readily opened out to its expanded condition for use.

Other objects will appear from the hereinafter description,

One specific form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which the same reference character indicates the same part in the several views.

Referring to the drawing: Figure 1 is a side view of the structure showing the same expanded for use. Fig. 2 is a like View showing the structure collapsed for storage or transportation. Fig. 3 is a section on line 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. i is a sectional view of a modification.

In general terms it may be said that a structure falling within the spirit of the present invent-ion is wholly of a skeleton formation and may be rectangular or of other suitable polygonal shape in cross sec tion. In the specific form shown in the drawing the structure is shown square in cross section.

On the drawing the parts marked 10, 11, 12 and 13 represent longitudinal members which are disposed at the four corners of the structure. Each of these members is provided with welding projections 14:. These members are rigidly secured together in pairs by straps or cross members 15 and 16. A series of these members 15 are shown as securing the members 10 and 12 together, and a like series of cross members 16 are shown as connecting the members 11 and 13. These cross members are arranged in spaced relation along the length of the respective pairs of members 10 and 12 and 11 and 13 and are rigidly connected thereto preferably by electric welding to the projections 14, and the ends of the respective series of cross members extend beyond the members 10 and 12 and 11 and 13, and are preferably arranged within the said longitudinal members, although they may be arranged on the outside thereof. 17 represents a series of cross members, the ends 17 and 17 b of which are respectively turned over the ends of the cross members 15 and 16 adjacent to the longitudinal members 10 and 11. 18 represents another series of cross members the ends 18 and 18 of which are turned over the ends of the cross members 15 and 16 adjacent to the longitudinal mem bers 12 and 13. The said turned over ends of the members 17 and 18 are so connected to the ends of the members 15 and 16 that they have a loose or pivotal connection therewith. 19 represents members extending from the cross members 17 and 18 and are rigidly secured to the latter, preferably by electric welding.

In Fig. 4: a modified construction is shown in which the pivoted members 117 and 118 are formed of two wires or rods twisted to gether, the free ends of which are separated to form pairs of legs or bifurcations, each pair of which extend on each side of each longitudinal member and are loosely turned around the cross members 15 and 16 so as to have a pivotal connection therewith. For example, the lugs 117 of the member 117 are turned around the cross member 15 adjacent to the longitudinal member 10, and its opposite bifurcated ends or legs 117 are turned around the end of the member 16 adjacent to the longitudinal member 11, and the bifurcated ends 118 are turned around the end of the member 15 adjacent to the longitudinal member 12, and the opposite bifurcated end 118 is turned around the end of the cross member 16 adjacent to the longitudinal member 13. The construction is such that when the opposite pairs of longitudinal members are moved in opposite longitudinal directions the pivoted cross members will permit the pairs of longitudinal members to move toward each other whereby the structure is collapsed into the form shown in Fig. 2, for storage or transportation, and when said parts of said members are moved in the opposite direction they are moved away from each other and the structure is correspondingly expanded for use to the term shown in Fig. 1.

While the rigid. parts are preferably secured together by electric Welding, yet it is to be understood that the same may be connected by other methods than electric welding and in some cases even the Welding projections referred to may be dispensed with.

ilaring no a described my inrentioin What l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters- Patent is:

l. device of the class described, :onsist- '1 pair of lime'itudinafl members iart, a series o't spaced cross men1- lir secured theretm a second pair int inal members opposite the first air 1" Ion 'tuilinal members, a second seies ot cross members spaced. apart and really secured to the second pair of longiiitll' li .i memlr err'a, it series of pairs of memers su )rl1tillll2lll}' parallel to each other but iei'peiidiciilar to the atorementioned cross meinl'iers, having the opposite ends of each pair turned over the ends of said cross members to :t'orm pivotal connection therewith, and a series of members parallel to the first mentioned rigidly secured cross members and in turn l'l liltllv secured to the pivotal cross members.

2 f1. derive ol the lass described, consisting of a pair of longitudinal members spaced apart a series of spaced cross memhers rigidly secured to said pair of longitudinal in Hill) a a second pair otf longitudinal members op ositc the first pair of longitudinal incn'ihcast a second series of cross members spaced apart and rigidly secured to the second pair of longitudinal men'ibers, a series o't: pairs oil? members suliistantially parallel to each other but perpendicular to the aforementioned cross members, having the opposite ends of each pair bifurcated to span the longitudinal member and each prong thereof turned over the ends of the said cross men'ibers to term pivotal connection thereii 'ith.

3. it device oil "he class described, consist-- ing of a pair of longituiilinal members spaced apart, series of cross members spaced apart, the respective ones of which are ri idly connected to the respective lon eitudinal members, another pair of longitudinal member spaced apart and located opposite the first pair of longitudinal members series ot cross members spaced apart and opposite the first series of cross members the end." P

ol which are rigidly con nectcd to the latter pair of longitudinal memll crs, another series oil. cross members hafing bitur-ated ends each or Which spans an opposite hingitudinal member a id are turned over the ends ot the respective series of first mentioned cross members and term a pivotal connection therewith, and another series of cross ineinl' ers barringbiitun cated ends andv located opposite the first incntionel cross members haii 11g bifurcated ends, each of which spans a longitudinal member and turned over the other ends of the respective cror'" members to term pivotal connections therewith.

ln witness whereof l have lltQlUtO set my hand the borough oil? i i New York this 18th day of and State of June ll li.

Jljliljill in presence of 5mm l1. llama-can, ll. N. lli'iinimxii.

Copies oi this; patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the fiommiss'ioncr of Eat-renter Washington, E3 

